[01/31/06 - 12:00 AM]CBS Places First in Viewers for the 17th Time in 19 Weeks

[via press release from CBS]

CBS PLACES FIRST IN VIEWERS FOR THE 17TH TIME IN 19 WEEKS

"CSI" Is The Week's Top Scripted Program in Viewers, Adults 18-49 (Tie) and
Adults 25-54

The Premiere of "Courting Alex" Delivers Season High Demo Ratings in the Monday 9:30 Time Period

"Two and a Half Men" Delivers Season Best Adult 25-54 Rating

The "Numbr3s" Add Up To Season High Demo Performances

"Criminal Minds" Finishes in Its Closest Competitive Position to a First-Run "Lost"

"NCIS" Maintains Its Adult 18-49 Delivery Opposite "American Idol"

CBS placed first in viewers for the 17th time in 19 weeks led by CSI, the week's top scripted program, a strong series debut by COURTING ALEX and the Network's entire Monday lineup, and solid performances by NCIS, CRIMINAL MINDS, WITHOUT A TRACE and NUMB3RS, according to Nielsen ratings for the week ending Jan. 29, week 19 of the 2005-2006 television season.

For the week in households, CBS (8.7/14) was +14% ahead of FOX (7.6/12), +24% ahead of ABC (7.0/11) and +61% ahead of NBC (5.4/09). Season-to-date, CBS is first in households (8.4/14), outpacing ABC by +18% (7.1/11), NBC by +40% (6.0/10) and FOX by +53% (5.5/09).

For the week in key demographics, CBS was second in both adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (3.9/10). Compared to the same week last year, CBS was up +4% in households, +6% in adults 25-54 and +5% in adults 18-49. Season-to-date, CBS is first in adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and second in adults 18-49 (3.9/11, -0.1 behind ABC).

� THE KING OF QUEENS won its time period in households (7.4/11), viewers (11.38m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12) and adults 18-49 (3.9/10).

� HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was first in adults 25-54 (5.0/11), second in viewers (10.82m), tied for second in households (7.0/10, with ABC) and adults 18-49 (4.1/10, with FOX).

� TWO AND A HALF MEN won its time period in households (10.7/15), viewers (17.07m), adults 25-54 (7.4/15) and adults 18-49 (5.8/13). This is TWO AND A HALF MEN's best delivery this season in adults 25-54 and second best performance in adults 18-49.

� COURTING ALEX (P) was first in households (9.6/14), viewers (14.90m), second in adults 25-54 (6.3/13) and adults 18-49 (5.1/11). This is the best regularly schedule program delivery in this time period in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 this season and second best in households and viewers.

� CSI: MIAMI won its time period in households (12.6/20), viewers (19.69m), adults 25-54 (7.9/18) and adults 18-49 (6.5/16).

� NCIS was second in households (10.8/16), viewers (16.97m), adults 25-54 (5.5/12) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). NCIS has delivered the same adults 18-49 rating for the third consecutive week with two weeks of "American Idol" as competition.

� CRIMINAL MINDS was second in households (9.5/14), viewers (14.65m) and adults 25-54 (5.5/11). CRIMINAL MINDS finished in its closest competitive position to a first run episode of "Lost" in viewers, to date. Since its first head to head match up, CRIMINAL MINDS has cut the viewer difference with "Lost" from -12.56m viewers to -4.40m.

� WITHOUT A TRACE was first in households (14.5/24), viewers (22.30m), adults 25-54 (8.7/21), adults 18-49 (7.1/19) and adults 18-34 (5.1/16). WITHOUT A TRACE posted its best ever retention of its CSI lead-in (original telecast to original telecast) for the second week in a row: 90% in households, 86% in viewers, 82% in adults 25-54, 86% in adults 18-49 and 88% in adults 18-34.

� CLOSE TO HOME was first in households (7.2/12), viewers (10.74m), adults 25-54 (3.8/10) and adults 18-49 (2.7/08).

� NUMB3RS was first for the 18th consecutive airing in viewers (13.22m) and adults 25-54 (5.2/14), first for the 17th time in 18 airings in households (8.8/15) and first for the 15th time in 18 airings in adults 18-49 (3.8/11). NUMB3RS posted its best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 delivery this season and second best Friday delivery ever.